Norwegians flee south in search of sun

One of the Nordic region’s best-known tour operators confirms a big rise in sales due to the poor weather.

Norwegians have had enough of the ice and snow, which have proven extreme in recent weeks even for Norway, and are leaving in greater numbers for a spell in the sun.

Ving, one of Scandinavia’s best-known tour operators and part of Thomas Cook Group, reports that sales for trips to warmer countries have increased as the temperature at home has plummeted.

“We saw a good sales increase last year, and in recent weeks we have been selling at around 10% even over last year’s sales. It can certainly be an effect of the cold we are seeing,” confirmed Siri Røhr-Staff Ving’s communications chief.

Easter is almost fully booked, she added, due to the booming numbers of people who are desperate for warmer weather, not more snow.

“In the Easter weeks we are sold out. There are only a few scattered trips here and there that are available,” she said.

Nationwide trend
Ving has seen increases in sales in all of Norway’s biggest cities including Trondheim, up 21%, Bergen up 20% and both Oslo and Stavanger 16% higher.

But there are still holiday opportunities available during the coming months, Røhr-Staff said, with “many possibilities for those who want some sun on their body”.